“Wait, what?” I said.
She looked as surprised as I must have. “I know, we collided and then we kissed. Neither of us started it first, it happened.”
“And then? Did you do it right there?” I asked. My voice sounded louder than I expected as it bounced off the hard surfaces of the kitchen.
She blinked. She knew what I meant. “Seriously? We were waiting for the tow truck. It was our first kiss, that’s as far as it went.”
I tried to suppress a laugh, but it burst out and she joined me. There was a light in her eyes. It was a real phenomenon. It was in all the books and movies. Channing’s love story. I wished she could have it the way she dreamt of it. I wished I could believe in it, too, but then I remembered the truth. I had to tell her what Harabeoji had heard.
“Has Minjae said anything about his life in Korea?” I began, returning to my seat at the table.
She shrugged and sat down. “He’s the only son, that’s all. I love that he cares about his mom so much. But he wants to be with me here in the States. Maybe she’ll live with us eventually.”
“Did he say anything about previous relationships?”
“He hasn’t had that many. Surprising, right? Is that a red flag?” Channing said.
“Sort of,” I replied slowly.
“Why are you making that face?”
“Harabeoji went to the bakery this morning.” The teakettle whistled, the steam shooting out of the spout. I got up and lifted the kettle to another burner, turned the flame off, and poured water into our cups.
“They’re all horrible gossips,” she said.
“Well, this time it’s true.” I brought our tea to the table.
“What did he say about Minjae?”
“Mrs. Ku knows Minjae’s family. Remember her from the beach club?” I wrapped my hands around the heat of the mug. “Did Minjae say anything about being engaged?”
She frowned at my words, took a sip of tea. “Engaged like how?”
“Engaged like to be married.” I said it and waited for her to fall apart.
She didn’t reply so I rushed on. Had she heard me? “Apparently it was a long time ago, right after college. Mrs. Ku mentioned that it’s been years now and they’re still not married, but they’re still engaged officially. The families have been waiting.”
She got to her feet. “Waiting for what? It’s definitely over. I’m sure it doesn’t matter.”
“So he didn’t tell you about her?” I asked. I was confused by the way she defended him.
“No, I’m sure it doesn’t matter to him.”
“It mattered enough for him to get engaged,” I said. Her response made me worry more.
She started to pace. “You want me to ask him about some girl his mom wants him to marry?”
“It’s not what I want that matters. Don’tyouwant to know?” I asked.
The calm with which she looked at me was unexpected. I thought there would be tears. “Dahee, I’m sure he’ll tell me when he’s ready. Everything has changed now. He’ll tell me because before we weren’t like that, but now we both know it is.”
“What about what’s-his-name who wasn’t separated and very much still married to his wife though he told you otherwise?” I said in disbelief.
“Minjae is nothing like him. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Stung by her words, I got up and poured my untouched tea into the sink. “Whatever, Channing.”
“I know you think the worst of him, but I promise you Mrs. Ku doesn’t know the whole story. Minjae loves me. I’m safe, believe it,” she replied.
